New Jersey Devils vs Vegas Golden Knights prediction: Hellebuyck's second Devils start faces a Vegas crease in flux

A new goalie, an unsettled crease

A week ago the Devils remade their season with one phone call, acquiring Connor Hellebuyck from Winnipeg for Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad, Nico Daws and Alexander Command. His debut on Tuesday was a 5-1 win at Dallas in which he stopped 17 of 18 shots. He rested Wednesday while Jake Allen absorbed a 5-2 loss at Colorado, and Hellebuyck is the probable starter here. One game listing shows him as out with an Oct. 30 return date, a designation nothing else supports; it remains unresolved, so check before puck drop. If plans change, Allen carries an 88.6% save percentage and a 3.11 goals-against average.

Vegas has its own question. Carter Hart left the Oct. 27 morning skate with a lower-body injury and missed the Ottawa game, then returned as a full participant at Thursday's practice. Coach Ryan Craig, in his first season behind the bench, did not commit to a starter. Adin Hill is at 89.5%. Neither has been dominant, which is why Hellebuyck is the biggest single variable on the ice.

Volume against finishing

New Jersey plays the game in the other team's end. The Devils average 32.6 shots on goal per game, 2nd in the league, and own a 56.6% shot share (their portion of all shots in their games), also 2nd. The problem has been converting: their 10.1% shooting percentage ranks 25th.

Vegas gets more out of less. The Golden Knights shoot 12.0%, 11th, and their top line has been ruthless. Jack Eichel has 20 points in 14 games, and Mark Stone has 8 goals while shooting 27.6%. Mitch Marner, who missed two games for the birth of his son, is back and has 11 assists.

For the Devils, Jack Hughes drives the attack with 14 points on 47 shots, and Nico Hischier leads the team with 7 goals. If New Jersey's shot volume finally meets average finishing luck, Vegas's goaltending question gets louder.

Special teams in short supply

Both penalty kills have struggled. New Jersey kills 72.4% of opponents' power plays, 24th, and Vegas sits at 67.6%, 27th. That favors the Golden Knights, whose power play (goals per opportunity) converts 25.6%, 8th, against New Jersey's 17.5%, 22nd.

The catch is opportunity. These are the two most disciplined teams in the league: the Devils rank 1st in times shorthanded and the Knights 2nd. Expect few power plays, which makes each one swing harder.

Availability is mostly settled on the blue line: New Jersey's Seamus Casey (knee) and Vegas's Parker Wotherspoon (upper body) are both on injured reserve. Vegas forward Victor Olofsson practiced in a non-contact jersey, and Craig hopes he joins the road trip starting Monday.

What the market sees

The books barely separate these teams: Vegas is -115 on the moneyline and New Jersey -105, with the Golden Knights laying the 1.5-goal puck line at home. The total has moved from 6.5, the first line our feed recorded, down to 6.0. That runs against Vegas's recent history, with overs in 10 of 14 games, but it fits a matchup with two goalies of Hellebuyck's caliber possibly involved and few penalties expected.

The early minutes may lean low too. New Jersey allows just 0.46 first-period goals per game, best in the league. Vegas is 6-2-0 at home, while the Devils are 2-3-0 on the road. History favors the hosts as well: Vegas is 11-2-4 all-time against New Jersey, though last season's two meetings were a split.